Trivia in the Kitchen, Number Thirty-Three!

It’s the real thing . . . Coke, is! Did you know that Coca-Cola was originally invented as patent medicine? Coca-Cola was first served at Jacob’s Pharmacy in Atlanta, Georgia in 1886 and gets its distinctive flavor from a combination of kola nuts, vanilla, and cinnamon (the exact formula is a highly guarded trade secret). According to Interbrand, Coca-Cola (which had the most valuable global brand in 2011) is currently (as of 2014) the third most valuable brand in the world behind Apple (#1) and Google (#2) Coke products can be found in more than 200 countries worldwide with consumption exceeding 1.8 billion beverage servings per day! (2013) Wow that’s a lot of Coke!

Thirty years ago, Coca Cola attempted to change the formula and introduced “New Coke.” This product’s run was short lived amid tremendous backlash over the change and was only available between April 23, 1985 and July 10, 1985. There was just too much nostalgia for the original drink. To counteract this backlash, Coca Cola added the word “Classic” to the cans to rejuvenate the “image” of Coca Cola. This Classic label wasn’t removed from their product line until 2011.